Posts by Slingador

    My 2c, I like to wear 2 knives, in case one get wrapped up, dropped or becomes hard to get to for whatever reason.
    I also carry a waterproof rescue whistle on a lanyard on my neck. I find the sound carries farther and is easier to sustain than screaming for the boat. A 406 epirb and waterproof vhf are good ideas for any vessle

    Thanks! Dude and Marco:) the boat is actually barely 16ft;) and close to 60 years old. It sound worse than it is, im cheapshake, so its really a matter of economics and the psychological advantage of going out in a vessle that isnt flashy. The fact we dive such close quarters makes me apreciate the Suit even more, since we are BRUTAL on gear and they have held up much better than the others ive had by a huge margin, same goes for my fins!!

    Wow intense, condolences to the Family.


    This video brings up three important factors:


    no matter how much more comfortable it is to dive with a reel, I just dont do it. This video proves the worst case scenario does happen.


    I have lost daryl wong with a reel under very similar circumstances but let the gun go.


    An frv could have perhaps helped


    Always dive with a buddy and insist on strict one up one down.

    I'm a true puss when it comes to the cold LOL. Here I am lamenting having misplaced my 5 mm Speardiver suit, must be somewhere in storage ;) surely it will turn up just in time for summer.
    Luckily had my 3mm and an old shorty in the bag.


    Not bad for a 15 ft boat?


    spearfishing-wetsuit-speardiver-predator-wahoo.jpg

    Interesting indeed, thanks for your insight!


    it seems to me, many times when one hears about trophies being lost, in the blue, when adequate buoyancy is used for large pelagics the crimps failing or breaking near the crimp account for alot of murphies tax.
    Im very keen to hear as much on the subject as the good members have to offer. Thanks in advance

    Thank you Nyle,
    Gil will forever be a hero of mine, he custom built my all time favorite speargun, the gun I competed in the 06 nationals with. Wow that seems so long ago..
    That day, I didn't miss a single fish, landing a 17lbs black grouper, a 9lbs hogfish and some others. Not bad for a day in Dania:) I managed to best several of the grizzled old favorites, the champion weighed a stringer of 5 jacks. I will remember that for a long time. The mojo of that gun is unreal.


    The only thing I can equate it to, is a Japanese sword maker, that imbues his spirit into his work. Its palpable. Amazing!

    When I found his website, it was like, someone had read my mind. When we first spoke about the project, his gracious humble way, struck me as something special. When he decided on a price, I was blown away by his fairness. In retrospect, what I received was far beyond any of my expectations, and fairness.


    Feel free to use any of my post as you please.


    Its a testament to his stature in the community, that those who were his competition as gun builders, are willing to honor him as an inspiration by building memorial guns.


    He was a true giant, his work will continue and one day, he will finish my quiver!


    Anything I can do, will do gladly.


    As a new father, the sadness is more real than ever.


    If his Children, Family or yourself ever find yourselves in Florida, please know, there are people in this state that are in your debt. I would be honored to take them for a snorkel, fishing, when the time comes.


    Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and his family

    This brings up a good point, anyone using chaffing gear on the loops, at the shaft and breakaway?
    Jon from Ulu uses little sleeves over mono that protect mono from damage from the fins. Seems well worth the effort, since its only likely to break on a once in a lifetime fish. Worst possible time.


    Im a huge believer in burning the end and pulling mushroom flush with crimp after it has cooled, before crimping. This is a crucial step according to many big game anglers. Its almost a pet peeve to see crimped mono without burnt ends. The tiny little point hiddding by the crimp annoys me;).
    Another often overlooked part of the process is crimping to close to the edge of the crimp causing it to dig into mono, thus creating a week point

    Underneath the line guide is a small recess, that the end user can adjust ballast for different shaft overhangs, with just a screw driver, The muzzle is also reinforced behind the band slot.
    My dream was that sometime in the future, I could have Gil build me a few more guns.
    The moral of the story, Life is short, savor it. If you've thought about a custom gun, building a speargun is a labor of love with very little profit, the fine gun builders in our community are keeping his spirit alive. I thank them for that.